Contrave Review

What You Should Know

2/2/2011 UPDATE: Today, the FDA rejected Orexigen Therapeutics Inc.’s Contrave pill, citing fears that the pill may increase heart risk. The FDA has not approved a new weight loss medication in ten years. The agency says it will evaluate Contrave again after Orexigen undertakes a costly new study examining possible links to heart risk. A spokesman for Contrave said that the company is evaluating next steps and deciding whether they will go through with the expensive study. Sorry, bad news for everyone who was looking to try this promising new drug.

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12/9/2010 UPDATE: Today, the Endocrine and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee, a division of the FDA, has voted to recommend Contrave as a weight loss aid. However, the FDA still has to give the drug final approval before it can be distributed by physicians. The FDA takes sub-panel decisions such as this into consideration before approving any pharmaceutical drug. Like, the FDA will decide on approving Contrave for weight loss in January, 2011. However, the panel also recommends additional cardiovascular studies of patients prior to beginning sales based on case study findings, indicating that this product still may not be suitable for those with heart conditions. We will continue to update our review as more information becomes available.

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Contrave is still in the testing stages, but it seems to offer great promise as a medication that will actually reduce the risk factors associated with obesity. Currently, this drug is in its third stage of clinical trials to assess the “safety, tolerability and efficacy”, according to the company website. The company that is responsible for Contrave is Orexigen Therapeuticals, a biopharmaceutical company that is focused on creating drugs that treat central nervous system disorders, including obesity. Current studies are showing that Contrave can effectively reduce metabolic syndrome in many patients. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of risk factors that may increase the incidence of obesity, which can also increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. This medication takes a whole new approach to weight loss, by focusing on neurological causes of obesity rather than suppressing appetite or altering metabolic function.

List of Ingredients

The two main ingredients that are being studied in the Contrave formula include Naltrexone and Bupropion. Naltrexone has been used in the United States to treat opioid addiction since 1984, and in 1995 it began to be used to treat alcoholism as well. This drug inhibits the reinforcement of addictive substances by blocking opioid receptors to the brain, according to the Orexigen website. Naltrexone has also been shown to alter the taste of foods in numerous clinical studies.

Bupropion has been used to treat depression since 1985, and in 1997 trials were begun that experimented with the use of Bupropion as an aid to help quit smoking. This drug appears to be effective at suppressing appetite and increasing energy levels, and is the most prescribed antidepressant in the United States at the time of this review. One side effect that has been noted with Bupropion is weight loss; an attractive side effect for many indeed.

Product Features

Since this medication is still in the clinical trial stage, there are few product features to report. It is suspected that this medication will only be available by prescription, since it contains potent ingredients with potentially dangerous side effects. There is no pricing or customer testimonials at this time; however, ample clinical data is provided on the Orexigen website, and this info is comprehensive and professionally displayed.

Advantages

The ingredients in Contrave may be effective in suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss.

Many clinical studies have been done on this product and are continuing at this time.

The company website contains ample information on the developmental progress of this product.

Disadvantages

This product is not yet available to the general public at the time of this review.

The ingredients in Contrave may have potentially serious side effects for some.

May interact badly with other prescription medications.

Conclusion

Contrave is worth keeping an eye out for, since the initial clinical studies have been promising and plenty of research is being conducted on the product. However, Contrave will not be the right choice for everyone, due to the possible side effects and medication interactions that may occur. Also, it definitely appears that Contrave will be prescription only, and will most likely be used to treat clinical obesity. It is important to talk to your doctor about whether Contrave would be a good choice for you.

I’ve been on contrave for two weeks still taking 1+1. the dizziness still hasn’t gone away. I’ve lost 8 lbs. in the two weeks with diet and exercise. im kind of scared to take the recommended dose of 2+2. any advice?

I’ve been taking contrave for almost 5 weeks now and have lost 17 pounds, I have no side effects except for some days I’m a little tireder then others. but other then that this pill has been my wonder blue pill and I have been very pleased with the results. Oh yeah I do spin classes 6 days a week and watch my food intake, although I’m not very hungry with the pill. Hope my experience helps..

I have been on Contrave two weeks. I have had to stop taking it because it absolutely sickened me. The most foul metallic taste in the mouth coupled with constant nausea was more than I could bear. It reminded me of my bout with chemotherapy. In fact the side effects were so similar. I am truly sorry and disappointed since I truly had high hopes of being successful with the help of this medication.

my dr. prescribed contrave for me and I have been taking it for one month with no adverse side affects. and I am losing weight while on the meds. it does cut your appetite. I don’t even think of eating my wife has to remind me to eat. I think it works wonderfully.

My Dr. Just prescribed Contrave. I just got home reading thru the material. It says if you have a seizure, stop taking it! I dont know if i should even start, im so scared to have a seizure! Please help!

i would like to try concave .wold like to loose some weight i am not on medications i dont have high blood pressure dont have heart disorders .I do exercise and my thyroid is great dont know y i cannot loose i eat healty and small portions

I too was in the study. It was wonderful. I could look at something temping (like cookies, candy ect. and say no thank you.) Trust me, that has never happened in my life! I lost 30 lbs and never gained it back. I still can’t wait for it to come out. I still have a lot of weight to loose.

I am very overweight plus I am 54 years old and need help..I can’t even put socks on when it is cold..My asthma is getting worse I have tried everything now I have no motivation. I can only hope this works. Let me know when it is available ty.I am 120 pounds overweight

I would like to know about Warfarin and this product, along with medication for diabetics, high blood pressure, pain meds for chronic lower back pain, Effexor RX, acid reflux med., and about 180 LBS. needed to lose

I was in the clinical trial for this, and lost over 40 pounds (started at 171, ended at 130). Unfortunately, when the study was over (I finished in Dec 2008) and it was no longer available to me, I gained it all back plus 10 more pounds. I can’t wait for it to be approved by FDA and made availalbe – I’ll definitely go back to this!

Great news ! I would also like to be part of the clinical trial. I used Phen-Phen and lost the weight but gained back when stopped. I am really hoping this product will work for me and be also safe, I am so very tired of being overweight, I am trapped in this big body when inside I’m thin, healthy and happy…

I am almost 51 years old, who has been struggling with obesity all her like. I am very interested in learning more about this new drug “Contrave” and when the availability will be. I would even consider being part of a trial study with this product.

Will there be a trial in this area? I would like to volunteer for that. I am obese and have tried numerous things. I am borderline diabetic, starting with high blood pressure, and have been taking heart pills for 3 years. I am 40 years old!!!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN AVAILABLE. ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO BE A TRIAL PERSON IF AVAILABLE AND NEEDED FOR FURTHER TESTING. SOUNDS GOOD HAVE TESTED EVERY PRODUCT ON THE MARKET STILL OVER WEIGHT. HELP PLEASE.

I was on the 52 week trail. I went from 190 to 129 & was advised to gain at least 6 back. shoud be 135 to 140. I am now 180 after being on an antideprssant. I can’t wait until it is approved so I can go back on it. IT WAS GREAT.